Shiprock calls for AG's opinion on Council charges

BOTTOM: A community member from the Shiprock area holds a picture of a power plant in his hand Monday night during a meeting at the Shiprock chapter house in Shiprock.

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Not knowing whether he did any good by calling Speaker Johnny Naize and the Navajo Nation Council "out of order" during a Dec. 23 special Nabiki'yati' Committee meeting in Window Rock, Shiprock Chapter President Duane "Chili" Yazzie showed footage of the incident to the very people who elected him into office.

The chapter president wanted to know from his constituents whether he was, in fact, out of order himself.

On Monday, at a packed chapter meeting, community members watched the YouTube video — viewed more than 76,000 times – and applauded and spoke favorably of their chapter president's actions.

"We have to have somebody stand up to the giant," said Sam Ahkeah, who was one of several to applaud Yazzie for calling the Council out of order on Dec. 23.

The video, widely known as "You're out of order," was screened before community members passed two resolutions, including one that asks Attorney General Harrison Tsosie to issue a legal opinion on whether Council delegates facing charges of bribery and conspiracy should remain in office.

According to the resolution, which the chapter membership unanimously passed 85-0, the Diné people require their leadership to obey all laws of the Navajo Nation, including the Fundamental Laws of the Diné and the Navajo Ethics Law and especially upholding the oaths of office that they took.

The resolution requesting for Tsosie's legal opinion was received Wednesday, according to Yazzie.